![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Apr. 25th, 2009 08:22 pmI want to tell you about the state of the garden these days, in pictures, not just words. But I am tired and am still trying to finish grading papers, so I must focus and get things done.
In the midst of trying to grade today, I started wondering about why I often feel as though I know a lot about the world around me while many other people seem to know so little. Is it lack of opportunity? Youth? Lack of motivation? Too much time in front of a television and not enough time reading a newspaper or writing? Is it too much time outside riding a bicycle? If my goal is to educate, I must reflect on this subject--how do I encourage the good people of Arizona to become more aware of all of the fascinating things that happen around them all of the time?
These musings had an odd source of inspiration--I was staring out of the window at the beautiful weather, wondering if all of it is a product of having one's brains baked out by the summer heat. I can see how it would actually make a person more stupid (self included), if it leads one to spend more time outside doing semi-monotonous things instead of spending time inside with a book or two. But we humans have to learn to do semi-monotonous things anyway, and in hot weather, so maybe it is better to not be smart.
And with that, back to grading.
Before I go, though, three things: on Thursday, as I rode my bicycle along Southern Avenue (no bike lane; fast traffic), a car slowed behind me and repeatedly blared on its horn at me. There was nothing I could do about it, so I stayed where I was and after a long while the car went around. On Friday, someone rolled down the window to yell, "Get off the road!" It happened again today. I suspect the weather has led people to drive with windows open, escalating my perception of their rude/nasty remarks.
To those drivers: I am going to stay where I am. Roads are for people--ride for life!
In the midst of trying to grade today, I started wondering about why I often feel as though I know a lot about the world around me while many other people seem to know so little. Is it lack of opportunity? Youth? Lack of motivation? Too much time in front of a television and not enough time reading a newspaper or writing? Is it too much time outside riding a bicycle? If my goal is to educate, I must reflect on this subject--how do I encourage the good people of Arizona to become more aware of all of the fascinating things that happen around them all of the time?
These musings had an odd source of inspiration--I was staring out of the window at the beautiful weather, wondering if all of it is a product of having one's brains baked out by the summer heat. I can see how it would actually make a person more stupid (self included), if it leads one to spend more time outside doing semi-monotonous things instead of spending time inside with a book or two. But we humans have to learn to do semi-monotonous things anyway, and in hot weather, so maybe it is better to not be smart.
And with that, back to grading.
Before I go, though, three things: on Thursday, as I rode my bicycle along Southern Avenue (no bike lane; fast traffic), a car slowed behind me and repeatedly blared on its horn at me. There was nothing I could do about it, so I stayed where I was and after a long while the car went around. On Friday, someone rolled down the window to yell, "Get off the road!" It happened again today. I suspect the weather has led people to drive with windows open, escalating my perception of their rude/nasty remarks.
To those drivers: I am going to stay where I am. Roads are for people--ride for life!
